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Rashahla Yazdani English 1001 Mr. Storm 27th March 2011 H2 Oh No Covering approximately more than 70 percent of the planets surface, water [makes] our rivers, lakes, and oceans the lifeblood of our planet (Oprah.com). It is undoubtedly one of the most important natural resources existing today, given that it is needed for everything to grow and prosper. Simply, it is the essential component of all life. However, increases in water pollution progresses everyday in our very own lakes, rivers, oceans, and groundwater, causing harmful and deleterious effects to all living resources, living animals, and human health throughout the world. With water being the most valuable resource on Earth, it is only logical that we must make a better effort to preserve and protect it. Clean water is absolutely essential for a healthy lifestyle. Not only do living resources and animals depend on it, but it is also a fundamental human need. Water is necessary for the blood to flow, for oxygen delivery, for waste elimination, for nutrient transportation and for the functioning of almost every organ and biochemical process (Owen). Without access to clean water, our health and well-being are not only severely jeopardized, but they are also impossible. People without basic water supplies live greatly reduced and impoverished lives with little opportunity to create a better future for their children. Undeveloped nations continue to struggle as they lack the resources and ways to

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find access to clean and safe water. On the other hand, in developed nations such as the United States, the average American finds these problems far irrelevant and often times take it for granted. In such developed nations, turning on the sink faucet, bathtub, etc., is no problem at all. The average American uses 159 gallons of water every day more than 15 times the average person in the developing world (Mcelroy). From showering, washing our hands, cooking, watering our lawns, etc., we as American use a lot of water. We must remember that water covers more than 70 percent of planet Earths surface, but only three percent of freshwater makes up the water supply and of that three percent, less than one percent is available. Josh Clark, an author who analyzes the consequences of our decreasing water supply, writes, all of the rivers, streams, lakes, aquifers, and groundwater expected to sustain the 6,602,224,175 people on Earth make up less than one percent of the total water on the planet (Clark). Clearly, this is a major issue that we must take action against as population growth along with industrialization and urbanization will result in increasing demands for water and will have serious consequences on the environment. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, water pollution is divided into two categories: point and non-point. Point sources of water pollution are stationary locations such as sewage treatment plants, factories, and ships. On the other hand, nonpoint sources are more diffuse and include agricultural runoff, mining activities, and paved roads. Aside from the fact that they are classified into different categories, they are both essentially forms of pollution and are just as equally damaging. Polluted water isnt just dirty its deadly. According to the World Savvy Monitor, over 3 million people die each year, nearly in all developing countries. Of those 3 million, 80% of those deaths result from contaminated water causes. Every year, fourteen billion pounds of sewage, sludge,

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and garbage are dumped into the worlds oceans along with 19 trillion gallons of waste water entering the water annually (Miller). As humans continue to dispose our sewage, radioactive wastes, fertilizer runoff, trash, etc., into our water sources, we see that it has proven to have serious detrimental effects on not only the environment itself, but also to our very own human health. The consequences of water pollution can be seen in water bodies and the animals and plant life that inhabit them. Runoff coming from factories brings in contaminants into natural resources, making the water unsuitable for aquatic life and causing a reduction in biodiversity. Furthermore, the sewage flow containing bacteria can also affect humans as it may lead to diseases such as hepatitis and cholera. The biggest annual killer is diarrhea, which is contracted from the microorganisms floating around in the water contaminated by sewage. It [kills] about 1.8 million [people] a year, 5,000 a day (Treaster). Pollutants can also eventually accumulate in food, making it dangerous and inedible. These toxic substances can potentially enter our bodies, causing reproduction problems along with neurological disorders. Despite these factors, we humans still continue to pollute and contaminate our waters. Unfortunately, most people dont often realize the true significance until the damage is done. We as humans are ultimately experiencing our own consequences as we put our own lives at stake for our very own wrong doings. Despite the negative impacts of pollution, there are several people who support the action. Ocean disposal can pose somewhat less risks to human health due to the fact that we are not disposing waste by incineration or by dumping these toxics on the land we are living on. But is it really better to dump waste into very own lakes, rivers, oceans, and groundwater? Is it better to have toxic contaminants floating around in our water and accumulate in our foods? Either way, we see that in both solutions, humans and our

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environment are negatively affected in all situations. Another factor that may convince one to be in favor of water pollution is the economic factor. In some cases, especially for factories, it is far much more convenient and inexpensive to dispose industrial waste into the ocean rather than spend thousands on other forms of disposal. For coastal communities, ocean disposal is surely the way to go since it is clearly the most economic alternative. Also, if disposal sites are properly chosen and dumping methods are properly designed, wastes can either be concentrated and confined to a small area in the deep ocean or dispersed throughout a large volume. Although these economic benefits may seem logical and easy, they are mostly only beneficial to factories. Furthermore, it may seem convenient and less expensive to ocean dump, but transportation costs must also be factored in, therefore it is ultimately more costly overall. Along with the costs, water pollution in general can create poisonous drinking water, poisonous food animals, unbalanced river and lake ecosystems that are unable to support biodiversity, deforestation from acid rain, etc. Water pollution maybe not damage our health and ecosystems immediately overnight, but it can certainly be a catastrophic issue after long-term exposure. As bad as sewage contamination already is, the chemical contamination coming from industrial wastes are far more dangerous for it may originate from radioactive substances. Pesticides like DDT and fertilizers used in agriculture can accumulate in the fatty deposits of the body and be very difficult to dispose of. According to Maahir Viranis essay on water pollution, it has reached extremely high concentrations in India causing several metabolic disorders and slow development of several forms of tissue growth and perhaps cancer (Virani). Heavy metals can also result from these industrial processes and can spread in nearby lakes and rivers. These become

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toxic to marine and aquatic life and essentially to us humans who eventually eat them. These can also cause slow development and result in birth defects, some in which that are carcinogenic. Clearly, the problems associated with water pollution have the capabilities to forever disrupt life on our planet to a great extent. We see that ultimately, water is most important resource for the interrupted existence of mankind. Though it may seem that water is abundant, the amount of unpolluted water available is a tiny fraction of the total amount of water of our world. The vast majority of the Earths water is in the oceans and most of it is unsuitable for use. Water is life, but the supply of fresh water is limited and vulnerable to human abuse. If water pollution habits continue, it will, in the near future surely lead to widespread economic stresses and other tensions in our society. Keeping this in mind, it is time for all the stakeholders involved, including the government, our communities, various organizations, etc., make serious and conscious efforts to prevent this catastrophe before it is too late.

Works Cited

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Clark, Josh. Exactly What Happens If We Run Out of Water? HowStuffWorks. 08/14/07 Web. 16 March 2012. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geophysics.run-out-of-water.htm> Mcelroy, Julie. Do You Take Drinking Water for Granted?. Inspired to Write. IDW Publishing, 10/15/2011. Web 16 March 2012. <http://www.inspiredtowrite.com/2010/10/do-you-take-drinking-water-for-granted.html>. Owen, Michelle. Why Drinking Water is So Important. Physical Arts. Element, 12/15/11. Web. 16 March 2012. <http://www.physicalarts.com/mind-and-body/dietand-nutrition/197-why-is-water-the-most-important-nutrient-to-the-body>. Treaster, Joseph B. A Problem Worse Than Cholera. The Huffington Post. The Huffinton Post, 12/07/2010. Web. 12 March 2011. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joseph-b-treaster/a-problem-worsethanchol_3_b_801065.html> Virani, Maahir. Exclusive Essay On Water Pollution. Publish Your Articles. Publish Your Articles, n.d. Web 16 March 2012. <http://www.publishyourarticles.org/knowledgehub/essay/water-pollution-savetheearth.html> The Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Oprah. The Oprah Winfrey Show, 04/22/2009. Web. 16 March 2012. <http://www.oprah.com/world/Ocean-Pollution-Fabien-CousteausWarning-to-the-World>.